A superb talent (Steven Gerrard)

Member Name: Lakerfanster

Product:	Steven Gerrard
Date:	26/02/07 (168 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Pace, Power, Passing

Disadvantages: Tackled Can be a bit mistimed

There is a huge rivalry between Manchester United and Liverpool and fans and many fans from each team constantly criticise the other team. I am different however in that I am a real football fan and it doesnt take anything to praise the players of Liverpool and equally critique Man United's players. Here is my review on Liverpool and England's Steven Gerrard.

Name - Steven George Gerrard

Date of birth May 30, 1980 (age 26)

Place of birth, Whiston, Merseyside

Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)

Nickname Stevie G



Early promise

Steven Gerrard played for his local junior side Whiston Juniors and then signed as a schoolboy for Liverpool Youth and signed for the first team in 1997 aged 17.

Believe it or not he had a trial with Manchester United before he signed for Liverpool's YTS. He made his first team debut in 1998 against Blackburn coming on for Veggard Heggem.

He eventually went on to become a regular first team player in the 99/00 season when slotted in alongside Jamie Redknapp in the centre of midfield but injuries eventually led him to see a specialist and he was told that it was due to accelerated growth.

Liverpool Success

He played a pivotal role the following season when Liverpool won a treble of League Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Cup. Gerrard made 50 appearances that season scoring ten goals.

He was named Liverpool captain in October 2003 and he has gone on from there to be one of the best players in the world.

Needing to win by two clear goals against Olympiakos to progress through to the last sixteen of the Champions League in 04/05 season. Gerrard scored a stunning 25 yard strike that sealed a 3-1 win.

In the final of the Champions League he spear headed Liverpool's comeback from 3-0 down at half time against AC Milan in Istanbul, Gerrard scored a header within 9 minutes and he played like a man possessed.
Liverpool won the shootout after coming back from 3-0.
He was then named the most valuable player of the season by UEFA.


Nearly leaving

Gerrard nearly left his beloved club after a breakdown in communications with the board. He made a statement that he believed they didnt want him to stay and then there was a dramatic turnaround from the board begging him to stay.

During this time Premiership rivals Chelsea were very close to signing him after tabling a british record £32m offer for the midfielder.

The FA Cup 05/06

Steven Gerrard put in an even better performance in the FA Cup final against West Ham than that awesome performance a year earlier against AC Milan in Istanbul.
Battling cramp Gerrard scored two spectacular goals to bring Liverpool back into the match and they eventually won on penalties again.

This game proved how much the game of Football means to him, He played like David Beckham did against Greece in the European Championship qualifier. Gerrard single handedly brought Liverpool to the FA Cup.

International Career

Kevin Keegan gave Steven Gerrard his first England cap In May 2000 against Ukraine. In September 2001 he scored in that famous 5-1 Victory against Germany in Munich. Gerrard missed the tournament however after having surgery on a problematic groin injury.

Steven Gerrard has made 53 caps in his England career and has scored 10 goals playing in centre midfield, right wing and attacking midfield.

There has been a big debate about the merits of a centre midfield partnership of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard. People often say they can't play together because they are too attacking and one player needs to stay back and cover.

I believe that it is Frank Lampard who can't play with Gerrard, look at the 2006 world cup for instance. Frank Lampard had the most shots in the tournament and he had no goals at all. Even before that when they have played together in the centre Lampard hasnt given the same as he doesnt for Chelsea but Gerrard's form somewhat resembles that of his club form.

The player

Steven Gerrard is one of the best passers I have ever seen. whether it's a long ball on the counter attack or an incisive through ball to the striker. He isnt quite as good as David Beckham but he is England's second best passer of all-time.

He has an endless engine that keeps him running even when he got cramp in the FA Cup final. He has a superb will to win as shown in Istanbul and Cardiff.

He has so scored many superb long range goals and they often are very important goals like the one in Cardiff and the one against Olympiakos at Anfield in the Champions League.

He is a fantastic captain for Liverpool and when David Beckham stepped down from the England captaincy I was one of many who called for Steven Gerrard instead of John Terry to be named England captain.

His workrate is phenomenal and it shows how fit players are now compared to the pub culture of yesteryear.

He is a good tackler but many the only possible weakness is sometimes he goes in abit hard and the tackle looks worse than it actually is.

Personal Life

He is engaged to model Alex Curran and they are due to marry in the summer of this year. They have two duaghters. Lilly-Ella Gerrard (born February 23, 2004) and Lexie Gerrard (born May 09, 2006).

Career Acheivements

Winners
2006-07 Community Shield
2005-06 FA Cup
2004-05 UEFA Champions' League
2002-03 League Cup
2001-02 European Super Cup
2001-02 Charity Shield
2000-01 UEFA Cup
2000-01 FA Cup
2000-01 League Cup

Runners up
2005 FIFA Club World Championship
2004-05 League Cup
2002-03 Charity Shield
2001-02 FA Premier League (Level 1)

THE MBE

He received an MBE in the new years honours list for the services to football. Member of the order of the British Empire.

Steven Gerrard Overall

I am a massive fan of Steven Gerrard and wish he was a Manchester United player, what a midfield that would be. But I concede that it will probably never happen. He is a phenomenal player who I love watching.

Summary: Awesome work rate